{"id":22646,"date":"2025-07-26T03:18:24","date_gmt":"2025-07-26T03:18:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/22646\/"},"modified":"2025-07-26T03:18:24","modified_gmt":"2025-07-26T03:18:24","slug":"cameron-munster-open-to-switch-to-rival-club-as-huge-claim-made-about-storm-decision","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/22646\/","title":{"rendered":"Cameron Munster ‘open’ to switch to rival club as huge claim made about Storm decision"},"content":{"rendered":"

Storm playmaker Cameron Munster<\/a> is reportedly ‘open’ to a switch to the Perth Bears and it’s understood Melbourne would not stand in his way if he wanted an early release to join the NRL<\/a>‘s newest franchise. That’s according to veteran league reporter Paul Kent, who claims Storm officials have spoken to the Maroons captain about his links to Mal Meninga’s Bears.<\/p>\n

It emerged this week that Munster was one of three stars that Meninga has identified<\/a> as his first potential marquee signings for Perth, who enter the NRL in 2027. Fellow Queensland Origin star Tino Fa\u2019asuamaleaui and Sharks hooker Blayke Brailey are the other players Meninga is reportedly targeting to build the new club around.<\/p>\n

\"Seen<\/p>\n

The Melbourne Storm would reportedly be willing to grant Cameron Munster an early release if he wanted to make a big-money switch to the Perth Bears in 2027. Pic: Getty<\/p>\n

Munster is contracted to the Storm until the end of the 2027 season and is settled with his family in Melbourne, where he has been based since debuting for the Storm in 2014. The Queensland captain – who was outstanding for his state in their Origin series victory – has won two premierships and played in more than 200 games across his 12 seasons with Melbourne.<\/p>\n

But Kent says the Storm are aware of the interest from the Perth Bears and have spoken to Munster about the possibility of him joining Meninga’s side. And he claims Melbourne officials would be willing to grant the star five-eighth an early release from the final year of his contract in 2027 – but only for a move to the Bears and not any of their other NRL rivals.<\/p>\n

RELATED:<\/p>\n

\u201cHere\u2019s one for you, they\u2019ve already made approaches to Cameron Munster,\u201d Paul Kent said about Perth on his podcast, Kenty Blitz. \u201cNow obviously he\u2019s a big name at Melbourne and look it\u2019s very, very early days, let me stress that.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut Cameron Munster is more than open to moving to Perth. The club, I\u2019m led to believe, the Storm have spoken to him about that. Essentially they\u2019ve settled on the position that they will release him from his contract, but only to join Perth. Not to any other club in the NRL.”<\/p>\n

Mega-money Perth deal could tempt Cam Munster<\/p>\n

Munster is currently on around $1 million per season at the Storm, but would be expected to get a significant upgrade on that deal if he were to join Perth. Considering the tremendous service he’s given the Storm over more than a decade and the fact it would set Munster and his family up for the future, it makes sense that the 30-year-old would have Melbourne’s blessing if he wanted to leave.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut if the offer comes from Perth, and the Perth suggestion is, depending on what happens with the salary cap in the new broadcast deal… you\u2019d be looking at a minimum $1.5 million a year upwards to $2 million a year,” Kent continued. “So he\u2019s going to be looking at that kind of money.”<\/p>\n

WATCH: Paul Kent says the Perth Bears have already spoken to Cam Munster. He says Munster is keen, and the Storm would release him to Perth only.<\/p>\n

(Kenty Blitz) pic.twitter.com\/tDEZpCsjw4<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 NRLCentral (@centralNRL) July 25, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

Maroons teammate Fa\u2019asuamaleaui also has links to Meninga, who signed him at the Gold Coast and coached him at the Kangaroos. The Titans skipper is on a long-term deal at the Gold Coast worth around $1.2 million per year but has clauses in his contract that enable him to negotiate with rival clubs on November 1, which works in favour of Meninga’s Bears.<\/p>\n

The Bears would also probably have to table Tino a massive deal worth upwards of $1.4 per season to prise him away from the Gold Coast. But the rep forward could be open to a new opportunity, having recently asked the Titans to outline the club’s vision for the future after their struggles in 2025 that look set to cost Des Hasler his coaching job.<\/p>\n

\"Pictured<\/p>\n

Cronulla’s Blayke Brailey (L) and Queensland Origin stars Cameron Munster and Tino Fa\u2019asuamaleaui have been identified as potential marquee signings for the Perth Bears. Pic: Getty<\/p>\n

Cronulla hooker Brailey, who has emerged as the NRL’s most in-form No.9, is the third big-name star being linked to Perth. Brailey still has one more year left on his current deal with the Sharks but will be free to negotiate with rival clubs on November 1 if he hasn’t agreed an extension before then.<\/p>\n

NRL reporter James Hooper said this week the Sharks had made a ‘grave error’ in not locking Brailey down already. It’s understood contract talks between Brailey and the Sharks have hit an impasse, with the player’s representatives wanting a five-year extension and Cronulla reportedly only offering him three years on top of his current deal.<\/p>\n